Flickr: Chris Chabot

The winter months (at least in the northern hemisphere) are a holiday season for many cultures around the world. While this list admittedly focuses on Christmas and New Year’s, I hope it can serve as a reminder of the diverse ways in which our neighbors around the world come together to celebrate the same things: community, togetherness, and hope.

These 11 points below are examples of the different ways that people celebrate the holidays. Some may make us laugh or cause us discomfort - let us know in the comments what you think of these traditions!

1) Italy

Flickr: Simone Zucchelli

While many cultures around the world have some variation of a “father Christmas” who comes to bring children presents, Italians have an interesting variation. The witch, La Befana, will visit children during the Feast of the Epiphany in early January. If the child has been good, they will receive candy and presents, if they’ve been bad they will receive coal or a stick.

2) NYC

Flickr: Micka?l T.

NYC is famous for its holiday traditions. From the tree at Rockefeller Center to the the shop windows on 5th avenue, the whole city gets into the holiday spirit.

3) Netherlands

A Zwarte Piet protest in Amsterdam | Wikipedia Commons

A particularly controversial tradition is in the Netherlands with “Black Pete.” Zwarte Piet is the companion/servant of St. Nicholas in the Dutch lowcountry. He is usually played by a white man in blackface and in recent years has become the subject of significant controversy.

4) Britain

Wikipedia Commons

When they aren’t burning Catholics in effigy (yep, that happens in November) or wearing awesome hats, the Brits love playing with “crackers” for the winter holidays. These paper tubes with foil at both ends will make a loud “CRACKKKK” (hence the name) when the ends are twisted. There are usually treats inside!

5) Sweden

Wikipedia Commons

This is one of my personal favorites. In Sweden, there is a “Yule Goat” that can trace its origins back to pagan times. Today, the goat functions as a gift giver and it’s likeness can be found across much of Scandinavia, often as a statue built out of sticks. The straw goat constructed annually in the Swedish city Gävle is regularly burnt to the ground by local people whose idea of celebration differs from that of the local authorities.

6) Ecuador 

Flickr: Carlos Adampol

One peculiar holiday tradition in Ecuador is to make a doll or effigy that represents bad memories from the past year. It’s then burned at midnight on New Year’s Eve as a way to start fresh in the New Year.

7) Switzerland 

Flickr: shikeroku

In Switzerland, it’s thought to be good luck if you drop ice cream on the ground on New Year’s day. This sounds like bad luck on any day to me though!

8) Mexico

Wikipedia Commons

In the weeks leading up to Christmas in Mexico, people will create pathways of candles and lights known as “las luminarias” or “las farolitas.” This tradition can trace its orgins back to at least the 16th century, and is derived from the lighting of bonfires at the Roman Catholic Midnight Mass.

9) South Africa 

Flickr: Shreyans Bhansali

In some parts of Johannesburg, the phrase “out with the old, in with the new” takes on a whole new meaning. In preparation for the new year, some people will throw old furniture out of their window.

10) Siberia

toptenz

Russians definitely have the most intense holiday tradition on this list. New Year’s in Siberia is the traditional time to exchange presents. In its coldest region, the Republic of Sakha, people will cut a hole in the ice and plant a ceremonial tree at the bottom of a frozen river.

11) Philippines

Pixabay

On New Year’s in the Philippines, it’s traditional to eat round foods (symbolizing round coins) in the hope that it will bring prosperity in the new year.


This holiday season Global Citizens around the world are gathering with friends and family to celebrate religious events, cultural traditions, and to mark the New Year. As we come together for this special time of the year, let's also come together for a broader goal. We need to come #Together4Zero and make sure that 2015 is the year that sets the world on the path to ending extreme poverty. So use these moments as an excuse to gather those closest to you. Together we can start the conversation of how to come #Together4Zero and finally bring an end to extreme poverty.

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11 Unique Holiday Traditions Celebrated Around The World